Irv Gotti

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Irv Gotti
Gotti in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr.
Also known as	DJ Irv Gotti
Born	(1970-06-26)June 26, 1970 New York City, U.S.
Died	February 5, 2025(2025-02-05) (aged 54) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop R&B
Occupations	Record producer disc jockey songwriter record executive television producer
Years active	1988–2025
Labels	Top Dawg Productions Def Jam Murder Inc.

Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr. (June 26, 1970 – February 5, 2025), professionally known as Irv Gotti or DJ Irv, was an American record producer and record executive. He co-founded the record label Murder Inc. Records in 1998, which was an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. Irv is credited with having helped discover rappers Jay-Z and DMX.

Irv received production credits for most of the recordings by artists signed to the label—including Ja Rule (Between Me and You, Mesmerize, Thug Lovin', 6 Feet Underground, Livin' It Up, Down Ass Bitch, Always on Time), Lloyd, The Inc. (Down 4 U), and Ashanti (Foolish)—as well as other artists such as Jennifer Lopez, DMX, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Fat Joe (What's Luv), Memphis Bleek, and Eve, among others. Gotti was also the creator of the BET series Tales.

Early life

Irv Gotti was born Irving Lorenzo in the Hollis neighborhood of the borough of Queens, New York City on June 26, 1970. Lorenzo was of Filipino and African-American descent.

Career

Irv's career started as a DJ at parties in Queens, then becoming a talent scout.

Irv Gotti, under the moniker DJ Irv, produced the song "Can I Live" on Jay-Z's June 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt.

In 1997, through Irv, Def Jam signed Ruff Ryders artist DMX. Gotti, as executive producer, oversaw DMX's first studio album, It's Dark and Hell is Hot, released on May 12, 1998. The album debuted and peaked the Billboard 200 and sold over 250,000 copies in its first week. The album went on to sell four million copies in the United States, being certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA, and sold five million copies worldwide.

After helping Def Jam with the success of DMX and Jay-Z, Lyor Cohen gave Irv his own label under Def Jam. While watching Biography on A&E during gangster week, a Murder, Inc. logo appeared on the screen and Irv decided to use the name for his label because Murder, Inc. put out hits for murder and Irv wanted to put out hit records.

The first album released under Murder Inc. was Ja Rule's debut album, Venni Vetti Vecci, released in June 1999. All of the album was co-produced by Irv, who oversaw the development of the album as executive producer. Irv also produced Ja's second studio album, Rule 3:36. Irv co-produced Rule 3:36's singles, including "Between Me and You".

In 2002, Irv Gotti released Irv Gotti Presents The Inc, featuring the Murder Inc. roster. Irv co-produced all of the album's tracks, including the album's hit single "Down 4 U".

Irv, Ja Rule, and the label Murder Inc. were all involved in a well-publicized feud with G-Unit Records, Aftermath Records, and Shady Records over history between 50 Cent and Ja Rule. After this, Murder Inc. would change their name to The Inc.

Under The Inc. banner, Irv would move the label to Universal Motown and sign Vanessa Carlton. Gotti co-produced Vanessa Carlton's third album, Heroes and Thieves, which was released October 9, 2007, with Channel 7, Rick Rubin, and Stephan Jenkins.

In an interview with Angie Martinez in early May 2009, Gotti stated that his label, Murder Inc., was leaving Universal Records.

In September 2013, Murder Inc. was relaunched as an umbrella label under Irv Gotti's new label, Visionary.

Legal issues

On January 3, 2003, federal agents and New York Police Department investigators raided the headquarters of Murder Inc. Records, located at One Worldwide Plaza in Midtown Manhattan. The raid was a part of a year-long investigation into the connection between the Lorenzos and American drug lord Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. Investigators believed that the Lorenzos used drug money supplied by McGriff to launch Murder Inc. as a way to launder the illegal funds. Investigators also believed the brothers helped McGriff launder drug money through the making of the 2003 film Crime Partners. Although computers and documents were seized, no charges were immediately filed, and no arrests were immediately made. The raid was dramatized in the music video for Ja Rule's Murder Reigns.

Chris and Irv Gotti's history with McGriff dated back to 1994, when McGriff, newly paroled from prison, met Chris and Irv on the set of a music video in Queens, New York. McGriff wanted to go into cinematography and sought help from Chris and Irv Gotti to produce and direct a film based on Donald Goines' novel Crime Partners. The Lorenzos from then on maintained a friendship with McGriff, having him appear in the music video for Ja Rule's 1999 single Murda 4 Life and helped finance McGriff's dream project, Crime Partners.

On January 25, 2005, Chris and Irv Gotti surrendered to authorities in New York City and were officially charged with money laundering and conspiracy to launder money. During the trial, Irv Gotti was represented by Gerald B. Lefcourt, and Chris Gotti was represented by Gerald Shargel. In December 2005, Chris and Irv Gotti were acquitted of all charges.

In July 2024, a lawsuit was filed against Gotti alleging he sexual assaulted and abused a woman over a two year period between 2020 and 2022.

Death

Lorenzo died from complications from multiple strokes and diabetes in New York City, on February 5, 2025, at the age of 54.

Discography

Main article: Irv Gotti production discography

File:Irv Gotti in Houston., June 2004.jpg

Irv Gotti in 2004

Singles produced

• 1994
  • "Shit's Real" (Mic Geronimo)
• 1998
  • "Can I Get A..." (Jay-Z featuring Amil & Ja Rule)
  • "Hot Spot" (Foxy Brown)
• 1999
  • "What's My Name" (DMX)
  • "Holla Holla" (Ja Rule)
• 2000
  • "Come Back in One Piece" (Aaliyah & DMX)
  • "Between Me and You" (Ja Rule featuring Christina Milian)
• 2001
  • "What's Luv?" (Fat Joe featuring Ashanti & Ja Rule)
  • "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" (Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule)
  • "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" (Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule & Caddillac Tah)
  • "I Cry" (Ja Rule)
  • "Always on Time" (Ja Rule featuring Ashanti)
• 2002
  • "Foolish" (Ashanti)
  • "Happy" (Ashanti)
  • "Down 4 U" (Irv Gotti featuring Ja Rule, Ashanti, Vita & Charli Baltimore)
  • "Mesmerize" (Ja Rule featuring Ashanti)
  • "Gangsta Lovin" (Eve featuring Alicia Keys)
• 2003
  • "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" (Ashanti)
  • "Rain on Me" (Ashanti)
• 2004
  • "Breakup 2 Makeup" (Ashanti featuring Black Child)
  • "Wonderful" (Ja Rule featuring Ashanti and R. Kelly)
• 2005
  • "Infatuated" (Memphis Bleek)
• 2008
  • "Nice" (The Game) featuring Newz
• 2018
  • "Violent Crimes" (Kanye West)
• 2019
  • "Brothers" (Kanye West featuring Charlie Wilson)

External links

• Irv Gotti at the Internet Movie Database
• Irv Gotti discography at Discogs